1971 No S Proof Proof

The 1971 No S Proof Jefferson nickel is one of the most famous modern proof errors and a genuine rarity that commands significant premiums. Normal 1971 proof Jefferson nickels carry the S mintmark for San Francisco production, but a small number of proofs were struck from dies that had not been punched with the S mintmark, producing coins that should carry the S but do not. The error was caught during production and the affected coins were mostly removed before release, but enough escaped to create a recognizable variety.

Estimates of the surviving population suggest 1,655 examples were originally struck without the mintmark and somewhere between 1,200 and 1,655 were actually released in proof sets before the error was discovered. PCGS and NGC both attribute the variety on certified examples, and identification is straightforward: the normal S mintmark position on the reverse shows bare field with no mintmark visible.

The 1971 No S Proof commands significant premiums and is considered one of the major modern Jefferson nickel rarities. Heritage Auctions has sold certified examples in the $500 to $3,000 range depending on grade and contrast designation. Deep Cameo examples are particularly prized and command premiums over standard Cameo pieces.

The 1971 No S is part of a broader pattern of "No S" proof errors that occurred intermittently across multiple denominations and years. Similar errors exist for 1968 dimes, 1970 dimes, 1971 nickels, 1975 dimes, and others. All are significant modern rarities, and collectors pursuing comprehensive error type sets treat them as required acquisitions. For the Jefferson nickel series specifically, the 1971 No S Proof is the only major modern proof error and represents one of the defining rarities of the modern sub-series.